Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
494. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the lessons learned at the recent Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; the way the outcome of the conference will inform Ireland's approach to tobacco control legislation in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59872/21]
View answerThe 9th Conference to the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was a very different type of conference to previous COPs given its virtual nature. There was very limited opportunity for substantive discussion of issues of concern to the tobacco control community with decision-making on these issues largely postponed to COP10 in 2023.
One of the main decisions taken at COP9 was the approval of the creation of an investment fund to provide an alternative source of regular funding for the implementation of the FCTC and global tobacco control efforts. The meeting also adopted the Declaration on WHO FCTC and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic . We supported the Declaration which stresses both the need to protect public health policy from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry and that tobacco control measures should be an integral part in pandemic recovery efforts.
The ongoing implementation of the FCTC remains a tobacco control priority. Measures proposed for the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill are fully in line with the FCTC. These include the development of a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products; prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines and mobile units/containers, and at events/ locations primarily intended for children. As with all areas of public health policy relating to tobacco control policy, we will remain vigilant in protecting this legislation from interference by the tobacco industry.
